The University of the Cumberlands (UC) Men's Wrestling team rounded out November competition this weekend as they traveled to Rome, GA to compete in the Shorter College Open. This would be the Patriots' 3rd competition of the season, and they held their own as they had a combined team record of 34-23 record.

Three Patriots competed in the 125 weight class this weekend. James Nolan (Olympia, WA) went 0-2 on the day. Grant Burkhalter (Citrus Heights, CA) and Javier Carbajal (Homestead, FL) each went 3-0 against their competitors, making it the finals and finishing co-champions. In the 133 weight class, two Patriots were represented. Cameron Nolan (Olympia, WA) wrestled well as he reeled off 4 straight wins in the consolation bracket to finish 5-1 and placed 3rd. Andrew Tillman (Abbeville, SC) had his best performance of the year going 4-0 en route to win the title.

Calob Perkins (Miamisburg, OH) was the lone wrestler representing the 141 weight class. He finished in the top 6 in a very tough weight class as he wrestled a 3-2 record. Terry Stockton (Lawrenceburg, KY), Gabe Dunham (Avon, IN), and Devon Goings (Rockmart, GA) all competed in the 149 class, and all three went 0-2 on the day. Four Patriots wrestled in the 165 weight class as Kenneth Campbell (Harriman, TN) and Mitchell Kithcart (Pee Wee Valley, KY) went 0-2 on the day. Steven Traylor (Killeen, TX) wrestled for a 3-2 record, and Isaac King (Waycross, GA) finished the day at 1-2.

Sean Bateman (Corona, CA) wrestled solo in the 174 weight class, and went 2-2. At 184, Eddie Bernal (Covina, CA) also wrestled for a 2-2 record. UC's final two wrestlers wrestling as heavyweights were 197 lb. Samuel Johnson (River Falls, WI) and Courtney Freeman (Riverdale, GA) in the 285 lb. slot. Johnson won probably one of the toughest weight classes of the tournament going 4-0 on the day. Freeman continued his winning streak as he finished the day at 4-0 with 3 pinfall victories.

"For the most part I am very pleased with the way we wrestled on Saturday," commented Head Coach Matt Lowers. "Anytime you have 5 champions you have to feel good about things. Those 5 guys wrestled very tough and battled some tough competition along the way. Our guys are starting to battle more and figure out the positions they are excelling at and also the ones they need to spend more time working on. I think the team is looking forward to having a little time off before we come back on December 7th."

The Patriots will get a bit of a break, as they will not compete again until December 7th as they travel to St. Louis, MO to compete in the Kaufman-Brand Open. Matches are set to begin at 9 a.m.